SB Nation Kansas City - Ben Roethlisberger Likens Todd Haley's Playbook To Rosetta Stone, Says It's '90 Percent Different'https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48935/kc-fave.png2012-05-11T07:43:02-05:00http://kansascity.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24841312012-05-11T07:43:02-05:002012-05-11T07:43:02-05:00Ben Roethlisberger Likens Todd Haley's Playbook To Rosetta Stone, Says It's '90 Percent Different'
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<p>There was a bit of drama that unfolded earlier this offseason with the Pittsburgh Steelers when Bruce Arians left for the Indianapolis Colts and the team hired Todd Haley, former Chiefs head coach, to take his place as offensive coordinator. Ben Roethlisberger, the team’s starting quarterback and iconic leader, didn’t seem pleased with the change and didn’t want to learn a new offense. Apparently no one cared what Roethlisberger thought.</p>
<p>Checking in on him after graduating from Miami (OH) this offseason, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette gets the story on how Haley’s playbook is compared to Arians.</p>
<p>“That one’s a little harder than the Miami ones I was doing,” Roethlisberger said after he left another of Haley’s classes Wednesday at the Steelers facility on the South Side. “I joke and say that my final paper for Miami on Tibet was a lot easier than the Rosetta Stone we’re doing now here.”</p>
<p>Bouchette notes that none of the assistants know it either, so it’s a steep learning curve for everyone involved.</p>
<p>“Right now, we’re practicing the pass because it’s more complicated,” Roethlisberger said. “Steelers fans and coach Tomlin and the Rooneys apparently thought B.A. was throwing the ball too much. But yesterday in coach Haley’s office, we were talking about using the no-huddle and throwing the ball and how much we have to use our weapons.”</p>
<p>Haley never had a quarterback even close to Roethlisberger’s talents in Kansas City, so there’s no reason to go with the run-first formula he ran at Arrowhead. Instead, his work with wide receivers could make a household name out of Mike Wallace. It will be interesting to see just how ready the Steelers are when September rolls around.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Steelers offseason, check out <a href="http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Behind The Steel Curtain. </a></i></p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/5/11/3013859/ben-roethlisberger-todd-haley-playbook-pittsburgh-steelersMatt Conner2012-03-13T07:01:01-05:002012-03-13T07:01:01-05:00Mike Tomlin Calls Todd Haley's Availability A 'Ridiculous Bonus' In NFL's Offseason
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<p>While some predicted that the passionate approach of Todd Haley might rub the storied, steady <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> franchise the wrong way, Mike Tomlin is saying all the right things so far. In fact, he seems quite excited to have the former head coach of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/">Chiefs</a> on board. Haley is the team's new offensive coordinator after taking over for Bruce Arians, who left after his contract expired and took the same position with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stampedeblue.com/">Indianapolis Colts</a>. <br><br>''Obviously, I think we need to have a defined personality, but that's centered around playing to our strengths,'' <a target="_blank" href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Pittsburgh-Steelers-tender-offer-to-WR-Mike-Wallace-031212">Tomlin said</a>. ''That changes, of course, depending on what our strengths are. Obviously, we have a solid, franchise-type quarterback. We have some emerging outside talent at wide receiver ... Our personality, obviously, is going to be one that is built and geared toward our strengths.''<br><br>The situation in Kansas City was getting quite dramatic after months of tension before Haley's exit, so it will remain a subplot to watch throughout the season. Then again, if the Steelers win then there won't be anything to talk about except how much of a ridiculous bonus Haley was for the team.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/3/13/2866687/mike-tomlin-calls-todd-haleys-availability-a-ridiculous-bonus-in-nflsMatt Conner2012-02-22T16:08:22-06:002012-02-22T16:08:22-06:00Ben Roethlisberger's Meeting With Todd Haley Was Important But Overblown
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<p>When Todd Haley arrived in Pittsburgh as the new offensive coordinator for the Steelers, it was clear that it was a happy moment for the former Chiefs head coach. That said, it wasn’t that way for everyone on the team as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made it public that he never wanted a replacement for Bruce Arians in the first place. Then came the drama that Haley had yet to meet his franchise player. In other words, it’s been a rather rocky start for Haley in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>The reality is that all of this is overblown, made up by a media hungry for anything related to football they can get their hands upon. Roethlisberger was out of turn for his public comments on the matter, and it doesn’t help that Haley is known for being passionate himself. In other words, it would make for interesting football if the two personalities clashed.<br>
<a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/42729/report-roethlisberger-haley-finally-meet" target="new"><br>
But ESPN’s Jamison Hensley says </a>that while things have been blown out of proportion, it was also important for Haley and Roethlisberger to finally have their first meeting, which the two reportedly did yesterday.</p>
<p>Hensley writes, “You can laugh about the drama and say that this issue has been overblown. What can’t be overstated is Roethlisberger and Haley need to establish a working relationship, and the sooner the better for the Steelers. This isn’t to say that Haley and Roethlisberger need to be buddies and grab lunch at Primanti Brothers each week. But, in order for the Steelers’ offense to click, the quarterback and the offensive coordinator need to be familiar with one another.”</p>
<p>That’s an obvious statement, but there’s no major timeline here. It’s not as if Roethlisberger is reading Haley’s new playbook like The Hunger Games or that there’s any offseason activity for some time. The roster is going to change and schemes will morph according to the players that come in. This whole thing has been a ridiculous media circus.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/2/22/2817448/ben-roethlisbergers-meeting-with-todd-haley-was-important-butMatt Conner2012-02-17T13:03:54-06:002012-02-17T13:03:54-06:00Peter King Says Todd Haley Must Learn To 'Play Well With Others' With Steelers Offense
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<p>Mike Silver of Yahoo! Sports called the tension between former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley and general manager Scott Pioli t<a href="http://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2011/9/19/2435138/chief-concerns-tension-between-scott-pioli-and-todd-haley-worst-kept-secret-nfl-kansas-city-chiefs" target="new">he worst kept secret</a> in the <span class="caps">NFL</span>. Some Chiefs fans blame Pioli for that, but it takes two and Haley was always known as a passionate coach. Peter King of Sports Illustrated says that Haley is going to have to learn to play nice if he’s going to last long in his new post as offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers.</p>
<p><a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/peter_king/02/12/eli/index.html#ixzz1mfOE1Rqp" target="new">King writes</a>, "I think the phrase “plays well with others,‘’ will be important for former Chiefs head coach Todd Haley to remember if he hopes to have success as the offensive coordinator in Pittsburgh. He left behind some poor relationships in Kansas City — and not just with GM Scott Pioli. Haley has to bond with Roethlisberger and help the QB produce at a consistent playoff level, while keeping three talented receivers content. It’ll be an interesting chemistry experiment.”</p>
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<b>Related</b>: <a href="http://pittsburgh.sbnation.com/pittsburgh-steelers/2012/2/15/2800105/pittsburgh-steelers-football-offensive-coordinator-todd-haley-chiefs-ben-roethlisberger">Steelers Coaching Profile: Todd Haley</a>
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<p>Roethlisberger has already come out questioning the moves of the Steelers this offseason. Not that the quarterback has been unfairly negative, but he has cast a shadow of doubt over the loss of Bruce Arians to the Colts. Now that the Steelers have to develop to new offensive schemes and terminology, Roethlisberger has not been pleased.</p>
<p>Still Haley brings a keen offensive mind and a love of Pittsburgh to the job, so he’s likely to work out well in the end. He has some great pieces to work with and every reason to live up to expectations.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/2/17/2805148/peter-king-says-todd-haley-must-learn-to-play-well-with-others-withMatt Conner2012-02-17T08:19:49-06:002012-02-17T08:19:49-06:00Todd Haley's Hiring Was Mike Tomlin's Call According To Pittsburgh Steelers Owner
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<p>Despite what you’ve read, Art Rooney insists he did not force his head coach’s hand. The Pittsburgh Steelers owner reportedly wanted the team’s offense to head in a new direction under Mike Tomlin, a move away from the pass-heavy offense of Bruce Arians, whose contract was not renewed, and back to the ground game the Steelers have a strong tradition with. Instead, Rooney said the hiring of Todd Haley, the team’s new offensive coordinator, was Tomlin’s call to make.</p>
<p>“I think the bottom line is, Mike was comfortable that’s who he wanted to come in,” <a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12048/1210834-66-0.stm#ixzz1meGTME6K" target="new">Rooney told the Post-Gazette</a>. “It may be fair to say that when he started the discussions and Todd’s name was on his original list, I don’t think he expected that Todd was the guy he was going to wind up hiring. But as he had more conversations with him, he became more comfortable that he was the right guy for the job.”</p>
<p>To clarify his position, he gave Ed Bouchette an interview to settle the rumors around Pittsburgh that he was that involved. Instead, he told the paper that Haley and former Colts head coach Jim Caldwell were the only candidates brought in. Arians, interestingly enough, is now the new offensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts.</p>
<p>Rooney went on to clarify his role in hiring Haley saying that while he had a conversation with the former Chiefs head coach, it was all on Tomlin just like usual.</p>
<p>“I wouldn’t want my role in it to be overestimated because Mike has to decide who he wants on the staff. Even though there’s always a discussion between me and Mike about who he’s hiring and how much we’re paying him and those kinds of things, it’s normally a discussion of the business side of the arrangement than, ‘Are we going to hire a guy who’s going to run the ball so many times a game.’ It was a fairly normal process as far as I’m concerned in terms of how we’ve done those kinds of hirings in the past.”</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/2/17/2804502/todd-haleys-hiring-was-mike-tomlins-call-according-to-pittsburghMatt Conner2012-02-13T07:30:10-06:002012-02-13T07:30:10-06:00The Curious Case Of Scott Pioli And Todd Haley
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<p>When the <a href="https://www.arrowheadpride.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Kansas City Chiefs</a> decided to part ways with Todd Haley a few weeks ago it opened the door for the <a href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> to add the former head coach to their staff as offensive coordinator. While many Chiefs fans would say they're tired of talking about Todd Haley joining the Steelers because he's not with the Chiefs anymore and it's just time to move on. But there's still the matter of hindsight, and how your opinion today may change in the future depending upon the success, or failure that Haley has with the Steelers.</p>
<p>The dichotomy of fans that were choosing between Todd Haley and Scott Pioli and their tumultous relationship (alledgedly) will have an opportunity to revisit their views a year from now and see if they still hold the same opinion. If you believe today that Scott Pioli made the right decision in letting Haley leave will you hold that same opinion if Haley helps the Steelers win the Super Bowl next year? Obviously there are many factors in a team winning the Super Bowl but will the emotion get to you if you see Haley holding the Lombardi trophy in Pittsburgh? I believe that if you feel as if Scott Pioli made the right decision at the time to let Haley go then you can't go back on that decision, despite any success Haley has with the Steelers.</p>
<p>The same would also be true if the opposite were to happen as well. If you think that Haley got a raw deal in Kansas City and he goes on to have public feuds with Big Ben, Tomlin, the Rooney's and is caught with bottles of Hunt's ketchup (weird...i know) instead of Heinz, all the while losing in Pittsburgh will you then give Pioli a little credit? I don't think it works that way either and it's because fans have the luxory of looking back and second-guessing every little decision. Owners, GM's, coaches and players have to make the best decisions they can at the time and live with the consequences.</p>
<p>When the Chiefs originally traded with the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New England Patriots</a> to bring over <span>Matt Cassel</span> and <span>Mike Vrabel</span> a few years ago, I thought it was the best move they could have made to solidify the most important position on a football field at the time. A few years later I still think it was the right move even though I think bringing in <span>Peyton Manning</span> or <span>Kyle Orton</span> is the best move right now. I won't go back and criticize why they didn't bring in this guy, or that guy, because at the time I personally thought it was the right move.</p>
<p>I thought letting Haley go was the right move at the time. Even if he goes on to win multiple Super Bowls with the Steelers I won't go back on my opinion at the time because, well it was my opinion at the time. Time has a funny way of changing some people's perceptions on their opinions once their hindsight juices start flowing.</p>
<p>Fans can't use Haley's success or failure in Pittsburgh as a defense, or even ammo against Scott Pioli if the move doesn't fit with their current opinion once the season has played out. I think the next eight weeks or so will tell the story of Scott Pioli's career with the Kansas City Chiefs, not the decision to let Haley go. He's going through his first coaching change and has two key free agents that everyone and their brother agrees shouldn't wear any other uniform. At least those in Kansas City believe this to be true. They've got plenty of money and some holes to fill.</p>
<p>The tenure of Scott Pioli with the Kansas City Chiefs is not tied in any way to the success or failure that Haley has or doesn't have with the Pittsburgh Steelers and let's remember that in a year.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/2/13/2794672/kansas-city-chiefs-pittsburgh-steelers-todd-haley-nfl-2012BJ Kissel2012-02-10T08:15:46-06:002012-02-10T08:15:46-06:00Todd Haley Is 'Genuinely Excited' To Join Pittsburgh Steelers Family As Offensive Coordinator
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<p>For a while, it seemed that Todd Haley might not find a home as a coach of any kind for the 2012 <span class="caps">NFL</span> season. Interviews with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals resulted in zero offers for the former head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Haley’s keen offensive mind seemed like it might have been overrun by his temperament. Yet one of the NFL’s great franchises extended him a hand to a familiar place where his father served as well: as offensive coordinator with the Pittsburgh Steelers.</p>
<p>As Haley was introduced, <a href="http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Haley-happy-to-be-home/d25375de-b612-4f4d-a323-e860da94c1cb" target="new">he spoke multiple times of his excitement and gratitude:</a><br>
“I want to let everybody in this room know just how genuinely excited I am to be part of the Pittsburgh Steelers family,” said Haley. “I say family because that is what I know it as. All of my early memories in life somehow revolved around the Steelers. My earliest memory was watching the Immaculate Reception. Those things have stayed with me and are a big part of who and what I am.</p>
<p>“I am very grateful Coach (Mike) Tomlin and the Rooney family thought enough of me to have me here to help be a part of continued greatness. In my mind it’s the greatest organization in the <span class="caps">NFL</span> and the greatest team. That all comes from the heart. I am excited I am here now, working amongst the coaches and getting to know them and the players. I had to prepare for the Steelers last year. Now, it’s a little different. I am just trying to use up every second that I have to move forward and have some fun.”</p>
<p>Haley is known for his work with wide receivers, so guys like Emmanuel Sanders should be quite happy with his arrival.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/2/10/2789186/todd-haley-is-genuinely-excited-to-join-pittsburgh-steelers-family-asMatt Conner2012-02-09T14:28:46-06:002012-02-09T14:28:46-06:00Ben Roethlisberger Doesn't Want Steelers To Start Over Under Todd Haley's Offense
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<p>A storm could be brewing in Pittsburgh. At the very least, clouds are forming on the horizon as new offensive coordinator Todd Haley comes into contact with the expectations and hopes of veteran starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. While both men deserve the chance to be heard and will likely find an agreement somewhere in the tension of both sides, things could get ugly if one decides to be less-than-amiable about the changes coming in the Steelers offense.</p>
<p>As Todd Haley was officially announced as the new OC under Mike Tomlin, Roethlisberger also gave words of his own on what he hopes.</p>
<p>“I’ve gotten a lot of calls and texts and emails from people around the league, both good and bad about him,’’ ”http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12040/1209184-100.stm#ixzz1luzSm1Z0" target="new">Roethlisberger said during an interview with the Post-Gazette. “Everybody has an opinion, as we all know, and they’re letting me know what their interaction with him was — good, bad and indifferent. I’ve heard a lot of things and I’m looking forward to meeting him and forming my own opinion.”</p>
<p>“It would probably be easy for him to do,” Roethlisberger said about Haley possibly choosing to stick with his offense. "I don’t know if it would be easy for us to learn it. We’re so young on offense and the most talented room in this whole building is probably wide receiver, no disrespect to anyone else. And they’re also really young. They’re still the tip of the iceberg in this offense and they did as well as they did last year. And they’re just getting to the point that ‘OK, this makes sense to me.’</p>
<p>“That was my biggest talking point to Mike and those guys — I would hate to just throw everything out and start over because I feel it would set us back two or three years because these guys are just starting to get it. I hope we don’t have to start over and if we do, you know what, here we go. Let’s do it. We’ll do it. We’re not going to complain about it. But I would hate to have to set certain guys back who are doing so well right now.”</p>
<p>If anything, Haley can definitely make the young receivers better after his work with Steve Breaston, Dwayne Bowe, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin over the last few years. He just needs to be given a chance. However, Roethlisberger has definitely brought enough rings to Pittsburgh to be heard as well and Haley will likely bend but not break in hopes to build a bridge to his new quarterback.</p>
https://kansascity.sbnation.com/kansas-city-chiefs/2012/2/9/2787628/ben-roethlisberger-doesnt-want-steelers-to-start-over-under-toddMatt Conner